David passed away on March 30, 2020 at the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital. He was 82. David grew up in the Riverdale area of Toronto. He was a first-generation Canadian, and the son of the late Harold Kettel and Janet Gibson. He was the dearly loved husband of Bonnie (Brown) for over 54 years, the loving father of Sarah Kettel and the doting grandfather of Pascale Dupont and Sean Dupont, all of Gatineau, Quebec. He is also survived by the children’s father, Martin Dupont, and by his in-laws who loved him greatly, David and Sharon Aello and Marnie Brown, and by Deborah Aello, Michael Langdon, Katherine Ward, Madison Foster and the more newly-arrived Caleb Langdon and Isabel Ward.
David was a life-long learner. He completed his B.A. in Anthropology and an M.A. in Physical Anthropology at the University of Toronto, and his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1975. For some years David was a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado. He did field research in Kenya and Italy, had a major interest in Crow-Omaha kinship systems, and although always a Social Anthropologist, he had an enduring interest in prehistory and linguistics.
David loved his family and friends, jazz, good food, Tuscan reds and craft beers, books, police procedurals, driving through the mountains, the Ontario countryside, and Noelle, the Wonder Dog.
After returning to Canada, David and Bonnie lived for over 20 years in the Roncesvalles area of Toronto, before moving to Ottawa in 2011. In Toronto they were parishioners at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and in Ottawa they became part of the St. Luke’s Anglican Church community. David will be greatly missed by his neighbours at Knollwood Terrace and his many friends at St. Luke’s.
David loved the gathering of family and friends, and to honour that wish his funeral and the celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Friends wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Ottawa, or St. Luke’s Table.
Digital Guestbook
Eva Rathgeber
Sandi Johnston
Bonnie-Lee, Sarah and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your memories and love for David will help you through this sad time.
Wendy Robbins
Dear Bonnie, my deepest sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your wonderful, warm, larger than life, husband. I will miss his presence at St Luke's. Know that I'm thinking of you in this sad time.
Geoff Kettel
So sorry to hear of the passing of David Kettel. Although I did not know him, as a Kettel myself, and like David a first generation Canadian, I am curious to learn more about his branch of the family. If anyone has some information and wishes to contact me I can be reached at gkettel@gmail.com . Regards, Geoff Kettel, Toronto
Daniel - St. Luke's
Dear Bonnie, I was so sad to hear of David's passing. My deepest condolences to your and your family. I will always remember David for his kindness and keen interest in others. I will especially miss him during 'the Peace' at St. Luke's. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Bonnie and Sarah,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of David. I remember him as an erudite man with many interesting observations about the world. I know how close you were and what a painful time this is for you. Eva